Tonneau cover with integrated storage compartment

Abstract

A tonneau cover is provided for a pick-up truck. The tonneau cover includes a cover element of sufficient expanse to span a cargo box of the pick-up truck, a storage compartment depending from an underside of the cover element and an access opening in the cover element in communication with the storage compartment. An access flap in the cover element overlies the access opening and may be displaced between open and closed positions.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A tonneau cover for a pick-up truck, comprising:
 a cover element for a cargo box of said pick-up truck, wherein said cargo box has a floor; 
 an integrated storage compartment having walls made from a flexible netting material, said integrated storage compartment depending from an underside of said cover element such that a space is formed between a bottom of the integrated storage compartment and the floor of the cargo box; 
 an access opening in said cover element in communication with said storage compartment; and 
 a flexible access flap in said cover element overlying said access opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible netting material is elastic. 
     
     
       3. The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover element is rigid. 
     
     
       4. The tonneau cover of  claim 3 , wherein said cover element is connected to said pick-up truck by a hinge and supported in an open position by at least one strut. 
     
     
       5. The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover element includes a plurality of sections connected together by living hinges. 
     
     
       6. A tonneau cover for a pick-up truck having a cargo box with a floor, comprising:
 a cover element including a first section, a second section, a third section, a first hinge connecting said first section to said second section and a second hinge connecting said second section to said third section; 
 a first storage compartment depending from an underside of said first section, wherein a bottom portion of the first storage compartment is spaced from the floor of the cargo box; 
 a second storage compartment depending from an underside of said section, wherein a bottom portion of the second storage compartment is spaced from the floor of the cargo box; 
 a third storage compartment depending from an underside of said third section, wherein a bottom portion of the third storage compartment is spaced from the floor of the cargo box; 
 a first pair of access openings in said first section in communication with said first storage compartment; 
 a second pair of access openings in said second section in communication with said second storage compartment; 
 a third pair of access openings in said third section in communication with said third storage compartment; 
 a first pair of flexible access flaps overlying said first pair of access openings; 
 a second pair of flexible access flaps overlying said second pair of access openings; and 
 a third pair of flexible access flaps overlying said third pair of access openings. 
 
     
     
       7. The tonneau cover of  claim 6  wherein said first storage compartment includes walls made from a flexible netting material. 
     
     
       8. The tonneau cover of  claim 7 , wherein said flexible netting material is elastic. 
     
     
       9. A pick-up truck, comprising:
 a cargo box including a first sidewall and a second sidewall; 
 a tonneau cover supported on said first sidewall and said second sidewall so as to span said cargo box; 
 an integrated storage compartment depending from an underside of said tonneau cover, wherein said storage compartment includes walls made from a flexible netting material, and wherein the flexible netting material is immediately under the tonneau cover above a floor of the cargo box; 
 an access opening in said tonneau cover in communication with said storage compartment; and 
 a flexible access flap in said tonneau cover overlying said access opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The pick-up truck of  claim 9  wherein said flexible netting material is elastic. 
     
     
       11. The pick-up truck of  claim 10  wherein said tonneau cover is rigid. 
     
     
       12. The pick-up truck of  claim 11 , wherein said tonneau cover is connected to said cargo box by a hinge and supported in an open position by at least one strut. 
     
     
       13. The pick-up truck of  claim 10 , wherein said tonneau cover includes a plurality of sections connected together by living hinges. 
     
     
       14. The pick-up truck of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of sections include a plurality of storage compartments having a plurality of access openings. 
     
     
       15. The pick-up truck of  claim 14 , further including a plurality of flaps overlying said plurality of access openings. 
     
     
       16. The pick-up truck of  claim 15 , wherein at least two flaps of said plurality of flaps are opposing so as to open toward two opposing sidewalls of said cargo bed. 
     
     
       17. The pick-up truck of  claim 16  wherein at least one flap of said plurality of flaps opens rearwardly toward a tailgate of said pick-up truck.